Georgians participate in selecting their president through the Electoral College, established to balance the influence of states. Voters choose electors from their preferred party, who then cast votes in December. Congress certifies the results in January, and if no candidate secures 270 votes, the House decides the president. Georgia's votes are crucial in this process.

Elections 101: How Does the Electoral College Work?

October 28, 2024
2 mins read

When Georgians cast their ballots for president every four years, they’re part of a process that ultimately funnels through the Electoral College before the next president is officially determined.

The Electoral College is unique to the United States. It is an indirect election process that’s been around since the Constitution’s creation in 1787.

Why the Electoral College Exists

The founders established the Electoral College as a compromise. Some wanted the president chosen directly by voters, while others argued Congress should make the selection. The Electoral College was intended to balance the influence of big and small states, ensuring that every state has a role in the final decision.

Under this system, each state has a set number of “electors,” based on its congressional representation (number of representatives plus two senators). This means larger states like California have more electors, while smaller states have fewer, but all are accounted for. In Georgia, which has 16 electoral votes, the number has grown along with the state’s population.

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So, how does your vote make its way from the people to the representatives who make up the Electoral College? Read on.

Step 1: Casting Your Ballot

In Georgia, voters head to the polls on the first Tuesday in November. But rather than directly voting for a presidential candidate, they’re actually voting for a slate of electors chosen by the candidate’s party.

This group of electors, if they win the popular vote in the state, will pledge to vote for their party’s candidate when the Electoral College meets. So if a majority of Georgians vote for the Democratic nominee, Georgia’s electors will represent that choice; if the majority vote Republican, the Republican slate is selected.

Georgia, along with most states, follows a “winner-takes-all” rule. This means the candidate with the majority of votes receives all of Georgia’s 16 electoral votes. Only two states, Maine and Nebraska, use a different method where votes are split based on congressional district results.

Step 2: Electoral College Vote in December

Once all states finalize and certify their popular vote counts (historically, this happens by late November), each state’s chosen electors gather to formally vote for president and vice president in mid-December. This year, that date is December 17.

In Georgia, the 16 electors gather at the State Capitol in Atlanta to cast their votes. The electors’ votes are then sent to the President of the Senate in Washington, D.C. At this point, Georgia’s electors will have completed their part of the process, but the results still need formal confirmation.

Step 3: Congress Certifies the Vote on January 6

On January 6, a joint session of Congress meets to count and certify the Electoral College votes. Led by the Vice President, in their capacity as President of the Senate, members of Congress open and tally the electoral votes from each state in alphabetical order.

If a candidate receives 270 or more electoral votes—out of the 538 total—they win the presidency. At this point, the election is considered finalized, though any member of Congress can file objections to specific state results.

A new law — passed in the aftermath of the attack on the Capitol on Jan. 6, 2020, clarifies that the duties of the Vice President are ceremonial and that the vote of the electors cannot be arbitrarily thrown out by the Vice President.

What Happens if No Candidate Wins a Majority?

If neither candidate reaches the 270-vote threshold, the decision moves to the House of Representatives. In this rare scenario, each state delegation votes as a single unit to decide the president, with each state casting one vote. The Senate, meanwhile, would vote to decide the vice president.

Why Your Vote Matters in Georgia

While the Electoral College may seem complex, every vote in Georgia helps determine which party’s electors represent the state in the final count. Georgia, a closely watched swing state in recent elections, holds significant influence in the electoral tally. Every four years, Georgia voters contribute to the shape of the Electoral College and, ultimately, the choice of the president.


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